PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Jordan Williamson #19 of the Stanford Cardinals kicks a thirty two yard field goal past Lee Butler #20 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 8, 2012 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Levine Toilolo #11 of the Stanford Cardinals catches a three yard touchdown pass over Tony Foster #31 of the Duke Blue Devils during the third quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 8, 2012 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Levine Toilolo #11 of the Stanford...

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Stanford quarterback Josh Nunes (6) is pressured by Duke safety Walt Canty (4) and defensive end Kenny Anunike (84) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Stanford quarterback Josh Nunes (6) is pressured by Duke safety...

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The Stanford student section cheers as Stanford plays Duke during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

The Stanford student section cheers as Stanford plays Duke during...

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Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo (11), right, celebrates his touchdown reception with David Yankey (54) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo (11), right, celebrates his...

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PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Zach Ertz #86 of the Stanford Cardinals catches a forty four yard pass over Walt Canty #4 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 8, 2012 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Zach Ertz #86 of the Stanford...

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PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Ty Montgomery #88 of the Stanford Cardinals stretches out for a thirty two yard pass completion in the first quarter against the Duke Blue Devils during an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 8, 2012 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Ty Montgomery #88 of the Stanford...

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Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor (33) runs against Duke during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor (33) runs against Duke during...

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PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Stepfan Taylor #33, Levine Toilolo #11 and Brendon Austin #74 of the Stanford Cardinals celebrate after Taylor rushes thirteen yard for a touchdown against the Duke Blue Devils during the second quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 8, 2012 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Stepfan Taylor #33, Levine Toilolo...

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PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Tony Foster #31 of the Duke Blue Devils is called for pass interference on Levine Toilolo #11 of the Stanford Cardinals during the second quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 8, 2012 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Tony Foster #31 of the Duke Blue...

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Stanford head coach David Shaw leads his team onto the field at the start of an NCAA college football game against Duke in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Stanford head coach David Shaw leads his team onto the field at the...

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Stanford's Drew Terrell runs down the sideline on a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown against Duke during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

On Saturday night against Duke, No. 25 Stanford straightened out a lot of the things it did wrong in its opener against San Jose State. In fact, it was overpowering.

It opened up the offense after playing ultra-conservatively the previous week. A more relaxed quarterback Josh Nunes threw three touchdown passes, and the defense thoroughly throttled the Blue Devils in a 50-13 rout at Stanford Stadium.

In its last 28 home games, Stanford has won 25 times. It will have to play even better to keep that trend going next week. It hosts No. 2 USC, which will be out for revenge from three straight losses to Stanford and four in the last five years.

Asked if his team is where it should be going into the first big game of the season, coach David Shaw said, "No coach ever thinks his team is where he wants it to be. We can play so much better."

Nunes completed 16-of-30 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception. Meanwhile, Sean Renfree, the most accurate passer in Duke history, was 28-of-40 for 200 yards before being lifted late in the third quarter. Most of his completions were short stuff that the defense had little trouble containing.

"It was a heck of a lot better" than last week, Nunes said. He said the coaches opened up the offense knowing the Blue Devils "would come after us" by stacking defenders in the box.

Duke (1-1) hadn't beaten a ranked team on the road since beating Stanford in 1971. It was clear in the first half that the Blue Devils weren't about to pull another surprise on the Farm. Duke had just 27 yards rushing in the game.

Stanford opened a 23-3 lead in the first half before Nunes threw two touchdown passes in the first few minutes of the third quarter. Drew Terrell outwrestled a defender for a 19-yard score, and 6-foot-8 tight end Levine Toilolo caught a 3-yarder on an alley-oop play.

Terrell also returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown, Stanford's first on a punt since 2009, a little over a minute into the game. "In the last three years he's been so close - just one missed block or a shoestring tackle from going all the way," Shaw said.

Safety Ed Reynolds picked off two passes, returning one 71 yards for a touchdown and another for 50 yards.

Duke finally scored a TD on a short run by Brandon Connette late in the third quarter. Soon after, Nunes fired his third TD pass, a 27-yarder to Jamal-Rashad Patterson, the first TD catch of Patterson's career.

The Cardinal offense scored its first points midway through the first quarter. Nunes dropped a 33-yard pass to Ty Montgomery, leading to Jordan Williamson's 35-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.

It was 23-0 before Duke gained its second first down.

The Stanford defense welcomed back inside linebacker Shayne Skov after a year's absence because of major knee injury. "It's great to have his energy," Reynolds said.

Jordan Williamson kicked three field goals. Stepfan Taylor scored on a 13-yard run. With 69 yards on 14 carries, he moved past Brad Muster (2,940 yards) into third place on Stanford's all-time rushing list. He has 2,965. Taylor is fifth on the TD list with 32 in his career.